When I first arrived in Oaxaca I wasn’t so sure I would like it. 

It didn’t seem all that interesting, especially when I compared it mentally to San Miguel de Allende. That inland Mexico town is a photographer’s paradise. 

But soon I realized.  Oaxaca’s charm sneaks up on you. 

First, of all, you might be wondering where it is.   Oaxaca is a region in Mexico close to the southern border.  I’m referring to it’s major urban area— Oaxaca City.  I enjoyed a week in Jan. with a good friend.  

Neither town is close to a beach so that limits its draw to many Northerners needing to escape to  sunny climes during the sometimes miserable winters.  If you are a beach lover,  Oaxaca City isn’t for you.  

I came to love Oaxaca and look forward to returning.  Let me share with you why.  

The Markets

The Markets.  Vibrant and lively, the markets are central to life in Oaxaca.  Whether you are shopping for food, plants or just looking, you need to go to the markets. I loved seeing the baskets of fried grasshoppers, cute little cafe’s like the one dedicated to Frida Kahlo and marvelous arrangements of food.  

Fabulous Food.

The food is fabulous in Oaxaca.  Authentic. Reasonably healthy.  I loved the seven kinds of Mole.  Meals were not expensive.  Even the breakfasts were works of art.  While I personally didn’t enjoy Mezcal, lots of people do and enjoyed the tasting opportunities. 

We had lots of cooking classes to choose from.  Spending a day going to the market, cooking and then eating lunch was a lovely way to learn about the local culinary world. 

Friendly People

I liked the sense  of  community and friendliness we experienced whether hanging out on the Zocalo (main square) or joining in at a wedding parade. It was people watching at its best. 

Crafts, crafts, and more crafts.

There are tons of craft and art galleries in Oaxaca City, but also the villages within an hour’s drive are chock-o-block filled with families who have practiced their skills for generations.  It was easy to line up tours to visit the artists/craftspeople in these villages and to learn about what they do first hand.  

You really need to bring an extra suitcase along for all the treasures that you’ll want to take home.

The Surprises

I loved the  hidden places.  At first look, the streets aren’t all that interesting, but as I poked my head into the doorways, I discovered a labyrinth of shops, cafes and galleries all individually owned.   It was like a giant scavenger hunt. Sometimes graffiti caught my eye.  Another time, a sculpture on the roof.    I know I didn’t begin to see it all. 

Stay tuned for more about Oaxaca in future weeks on DesignDestinations.org 

If you’d like to explore San Miguel, here is a link to the blog post I did a year ago.   Here’s a link to the second post I did about this marvelous part of the world.  San Miquel de Allende.